Marie Curie responds to news that the Government did not publish recommendations for BAME communities amidst Covid-19 pandemic

Marie Curie responds to news that the Government did not publish recommendations for BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) communities amidst Covid-19 pandemic

 

Matthew Reed, the Chief Executive at Marie Curie, said:

“On 4 June, Marie Curie published a statement in response to the Public Health England report on the effect on Covid-19 on BAME people. We expressed disappointment and concern that the report only confirmed what we already knew and did not offer additional insight into the issue.

 “To learn that full recommendations were available on 2 June but are still not available to the public for action, is alarming. Like others, we seek an explanation as to why the Government has failed to immediately publish the recommendations in full. 

“Delaying recommendations and guidance could have cost lives and represents yet another failure to protect people who identify as BAME from the impact of Covid-19. Suppressing vital information is insulting to the communities that have been impacted disproportionately, to the 100 healthcare workers from BAME backgrounds who have died during the pandemic, and bereaved families and loved ones. 

“The events of the last few weeks have demonstrated the danger of systematic inequity; tackling racial injustice across all spheres, including healthcare, cannot wait. It isn’t right that ethnic minorities are disproportionally put at risk of dying from Covid-19.

“We are calling on the Government to publish the PHE’s recommendations for how to protect BAME communities from Covid-19 immediately, so they can be acted on without further delay.”